Tech Transition Toolkit

TechTransitionToolkitWe know you’re no stranger toovercoming obstacles in pursuitof opportunities. You’ve trainedhard and pushed yourself. You’veworked with your teams to see eachmission through. And you know thateven during the most challengingand unexpected times, progress ispossible. That’s why Microsoft Military Affairscreated this Tech Transition Toolkit:to help you take simple stepstoward achieving your next goaland standing out—even virtually—in today’s job market. Becauseno matter where you are in yourjourney, we know you already havewhat it takes to succeed.Jump toStand outfrom thecompetitionLeverageyour LinkedInnetworkBreak intotech andthriveOptimizeyour virtualworkspaceBuild awinningresumetstands outKnow yourtech lingoGo further

Stand outfrom thecompetitionWhen you’re looking for a new job, it’s important to figure outhow to distinguish yourself from other applicants. We talkedto Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA) programsite managers, who serve as program coordinators and careercoaches for graduates, to uncover their best advice for landinga position in tech.Network, then network some moreYou’ve likely heard a lot about the importance of networking—andthat’s because it’s foundational to job searching. “Both of my postmilitary jobs came from someone telling me about the openingbecause they knew me and knew I was looking for a job. Networkingworks!” says Jennifer Allison (Hampton Roads, Virginia). Keep in touchwith people you’ve met in the military, and through MSSA, but alsocontinue to make new connections. Yelena Shpigelman (Oceanside,California) urges, “Network, network, network! Building and maintainingprofessional relationships is paramount.”Pinpoint your specific career goalsDetermining precisely what you’re looking for in a career is vital. A goodstarting point is to think about what you want. “Start thinking aboutthings you like to do and conduct research to determine if there’s acareer in that field,” says Maurice Radke (Schofield Barracks, Hawaii).Once you’ve narrowed down your focus area, consider specifics. You mayneed to compromise in some areas if you can’t be flexible in others. “Behonest with yourself and your wants, setting realistic expectations onwhat is available to you in your location of choice and the impact thathas on salary,” suggests Dina Janicki (Joint Base San Antonio, Texas).Make a clear, but flexible, plan“Stay open to all opportunities, even those that aren’t a complete fit,”says Jason Harvey (Fort Carson, Colorado). It can be a strategic move tojust get a foot in the door in tech, rather than holding out for your idealposition. Douglas Woodruff (Fort Campbell, Kentucky) has seen manycandidates from the military get lost in the vast amount of resourcesavailable; he advises shaping a specific but adaptable road map.

Find the right mentor for you“Acquire a mentor in the vocation/role you’re seeking,” advisesTerry Henderson (Fort Bragg, North Carolina). “They will help younavigate the corporate terrain.” Exploring LinkedIn connections isa streamlined way to find the optimal person to advise you at eachstep of your career shift to tech—and then through all the ins andouts of your long-term goals. A great mentor will share advice andsupport over the full course of your tech career, so it’s worth takingthe time to find a good relationship fit. Over time, you might alsoconsider connecting with more than one mentor to support you indifferent priority areas as you grow your career.Value your own valueThe way you present your military skills is important when applyingfor jobs in technology. Don’t underestimate the full-spectrum merityou can bring to companies. “You are valuable and you have done alot; you just need to frame it for the corporate world,” says MaureenFarmer (Quantico, Virginia). It’s common for people to think they’reunderqualified for a position; apply anyway. “It’s not necessary tomeet 100% of the job description requirements,” Terrence M. Brown(Lacey, Washington) reminds us. “Try to meet at least 60%—andremember that includes soft skills, such as teamwork, collaboration,and time management.”Practice interviewing“Practice, practice, practice your elevator pitch and ‘tell me aboutyourself’ response to share in interviews,” advises Dayna Grimes(Camp Pendleton, California). It’s crucial to be able to convinceemployers—in a sentence or two—why they should hire you, basedon all you’ll bring to the organization. Dry runs with a mentor orfriend will enhance your ease in talking about these topics, andthat preparation and confidence stands out in interviews. “Just likeanything else, the more you rehearse, the better you will sound,”says Rudy Gonzalez (Camp Lejeune, North Carolina).Keep it upOne of the most frequent pieces of advice we heard fromsite managers was to not lose momentum. “The job searchis all about confidence and consistency of outreach, andconfidence comes from consistent engagement with yourtargeted market,” Dave Montore (Joint Base Lewis-McChord,Washington) confirms. It can be dejecting to send outresumes and not hear back. But the key is to keep going.“Stay vigilant in searching for your next role,” says TyRonFlynn (San Diego, California). “Don’t get discouraged,persistence overrides resistance.”

Leverage yourLinkedIn networkYour LinkedIn network is a valuable resource to help you stay aware of opportunities and buildconnections while working to forge a new career path. In fact, according to LinkedIn, 70% of peoplehired at a new company had a connection at that company. Knowing that’s how indispensable thenetwork can be to you, here are five tactical tips to make the most of it (plus a bonus tip!):12Keep yourprofile up to dateSign up for a free one-yearLinkedIn Premium membershipA current profile ensures your connections knowwhat you’re up to now—and what you’re interestedin for the future—whenever they may come looking.You can also use LinkedIn’s badge tools to make itclear to anyone who visits your profile that you’re#OpenToWork. The feature lets you easily share withyour network—or even just with recruiters—thatyou’re job searching. Remember: Networking isn’tjust about seeking out others; it’s equally aboutmaking sure you’re ready when they find you.You can expand your network powerfullythrough this enhanced version of the networkingtool. The InMail feature lets you contact peopleyou aren’t already connected with, and trackeveryone who’s viewed your profile—bothof which are valuable for job searching. Theupgrade is available at no cost to all servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses.

34Leverage theSearch featureReach out to oldand new contactsLinkedIn Search is the easiest way to build yournetwork on LinkedIn. With a Premium membershipyou’ll see more than the standard 100 searchresults, which means you can expand the amount ofpotential touch points you uncover to aid your jobsearch. The search tool also lets you filter by location,job type, or degree of contact—you can even findand sync with people who those in your first-degreenetwork are connected to. Simply input a search, andthen use the filters at the top of the results page toexplore all the options at your fingertips.To build a comprehensive network you cantap whenever opportunity arises, be sure toconnect with people you’ve worked with inprevious roles. Don’t be shy about reachingout, even to those you haven’t had contactwith recently. Just send a personalized messagereminding them of your shared history to putyour connection request in context. Manyask, “Should I also reach out to people I don’tknow?” The answer is “Yes.” Just make sure youexplain who you are and why you’re lookingto connect with them. And remember, themore you frame the reason for connection assomething that could benefit them, the betterthe odds are that they’ll accept the request.5Browse LinkedIn groupsGroups help boost your LinkedIn networking impact.In particular, the Veteran Mentor Network is an activecommunity providing how-to resources for people inyour same situation. Introduce yourself with a briefline about your background, and don’t forget toovertly state that you’re looking for a new position.To take it up yet another notch, mention that you’relooking to build your network, and send connectionrequests (with a message explaining who you are) toanyone you’d like to talk with more—especially fellowformer MSSA graduates who’ve found employmentsuccess, if you’ve enrolled in the program. Pro tip:Once you join a group, it’s key to regularly interactwithin it, to remain memorable to active members.Bonus reminder: Ask your network for help. Asolid and active LinkedIn network (covering yourmilitary contacts and beyond) provides numerousvaried avenues of support when it comes tolanding a referral or learning about applicableopportunities. Not only are many jobs landeddirectly through such contacts, but also don’tforget: All your connections also have their ownmutually beneficial reasons to connect with you—and are also the perfect references to endorse you(and vice versa). It’s a win-win.

Breakinto techand thriveHere’s some pinpointed advice asyou forge ahead, from military vetslike you who’ve already successfullytransitioned to civilian careers in tech:

“Be yourauthentic self.Don’t try tofit the mold ofthe job—findthe job thatmolds to you.”Lauren CapersAzure Support Engineerat Microsoft“If you’re newto coding,get as muchpractice asyou can. Beprepared toput in the workand it will payoff in the end.”Jerry WrightAdvanced SystemsAdministration Specialistat General DynamicsMission Systems“It’s ok tofail. Don’t getcaught up ineverything youdon’t know—be brilliant atthe basics andthe rest willfollow.”Rochelle GorbeaSharePoint CustomerEngineer at Microsoft“Don’t put allyour eggs inone basket. Doput the sameeffort into jobapplicationnumber 50 thatyou put intoapplicationnumber 1.”Tony HernandezCloud Engineer atAnika Systems“Don’tundersellyour militaryexperience.That in itself isan invaluableasset to thetech industry.”James KoesterHelp Desk Specialist atTEK Systems

Optimizeyour virtualworkspaceBy taking a handful of achievable steps, youcan create a workspace to help you succeed—and avoid some of the common mishapsthat arise when learning, networking, andjob-hunting online. Check each item off thislist to ensure you’re ready to bring your best,camera-ready, must-hire self.